Card game

ABSTRACT

A card game comprises a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth, the gaming cloth providing; a dealer area in which cards may be dealt to a dealer and a plurality of player areas, where cards may be dealt to one or more players, each player area including an area in which the or each player may place an initial bet; one or more players placing a bet to participate in the game; hands having two playing cards then being dealt to the or each player and to a dealer, in turn; the hand dealt to the or each player then being compared to the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the bet by; determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank; where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of the dealer, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.

This application claims priority from British Application Serial No. 0524753.1 filed Dec. 3, 2005.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a card game and in particular to a method of playing the card game.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a card game comprises a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth;

wherein the gaming cloth provides;

a plurality of player areas, where cards may be dealt to one or more players;

the game comprising;

dealing hands having two playing cards to each player; and

comparing the hands dealt to each player to determine the outcome of the game by;

determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank;

where hands are of the same level, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.

According to a preferred embodiment, the gaming cloth further provides;

a dealer area in which cards may be dealt to a dealer;

the or each player area including an area in which the or each player may place an initial bet;

the hand dealt to the or each player being compared with the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the initial bet.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method of playing a card game comprises the steps of:

one or more players placing a bet to participate in the game;

dealing hands having two playing cards to the or each player and to a dealer; and

comparing the hand dealt to the or each player with the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the bet by;

determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank;

where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of the dealer, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when both a player and the dealer have a hand with two cards of different, non-consecutive rank; then the high cards of each hand are compared with one another and the low cards of each hand compared with one another, both the high and the low card of one hand having to be of higher rank than corresponding high and low cards of the other hand, in order to win. When one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding high or low card of the other hand, and the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding high or low card of the other hand, then neither hand wins and the bet if forwarded to the next game.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a hand comprising two cards of consecutive rank of the same suit may be considered to outrank two cards of consecutive rank of different suits, irrespective of the rank of the cards.

When comparing the rank of the hands or high and low cards as described hereinbefore, where the hands or cards are of the same level and of equal rank, then the dealer wins. Ace ranks as high, except when dealt with a two, ace/two constituting the lowest rank hand with cards of consecutive rank.

Bets will normally be paid out at odds of 1:1. However odds may be increased for higher value hands, for example a player with a winning hand of a pair of tens or better, may be paid at odds of 2:1.

In addition to the basic game described above, various additional bets and/or variations may optionally be included in the game, for example:

Call Bet.

Each player may be required to place a call bet after seeing his hand but before the dealers hand is revealed, in order to remain in the game. This call bet is added to the initial bet placed by the player. If the player does not place a call bet the initial bet is forfeit but any side bets on his hand will stand.

Set Bonus Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a set bonus bet on the hand he is dealt being above a specified value. The bonus bet is paid out regardless of whether the player's hand beats that of the dealer. The set bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the hand, for example; Pair of tens to pair of aces: 10:1  Pair of eights or nines: 8:1 Pair of twos to pair of sevens: 5:1 Two cards of consecutive rank: 2:1

High Half-Hand Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a high half-hand bet on the hands he and the dealer are dealt having two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the players high card being of higher rank than the dealers high card. The player shall win the bet if he has a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank and beats the dealers hand, or if both the player and the dealer have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank and the players high card beats the dealers high card. The high half-hand bet is paid at odds of 1:1, unless the player has a pair of tens or better when it is paid at odds of 2:1.

Low Half-Hand Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a low half-hand bet on the hands he and the dealer are dealt having two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the players low card being of higher rank than the dealers low card. The player shall win the bet if he has a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank and beats the dealers hand, or if both the player and the dealer have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank and the players low card beats the dealers low card. The low half-hand bet is paid at odds of 1:1, unless the player has a pair of tens or better when it is paid at odds of 2:1.

Dealer High Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a bet that the second card dealt to the dealer is higher that the first card. The player wins and is paid at odds of 1:1, if the second card dealt to the dealer is of higher rank than the first card, or if the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces. Otherwise the player looses the dealer high bet.

Dealer Low Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a bet that the second card dealt to the dealer is lower that the first card. The player wins and is paid at odds of 1:1, if the second card dealt to the dealer is of lower rank than the first card, or if the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces. Otherwise the player looses the dealer low bet.

Low-Ball Bonus Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a bet that the cards he is dealt will be of different rank and both within a specified range of values. The player wins the low-ball bonus bet if he is dealt two cards of different rank, both cards falling within the specified range, irrespective of the outcome of the main game. The low-ball bonus may be paid at odds depending on the rank of the cards constituting the players hand, for example: Both cards of different rank and three or less: 5:1 Both cards of different rank and five or less: 3:1 Both cards of different rank and seven or less: 2:1

Four Suit Bonus Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a bet that the four cards including the two cards dealt to the player plus the two cards dealt to the dealer are all of different suit. Irrespective of the outcome of the main game, the player will win the four suit bonus bet, if the four cards are of different suit. The four suit bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the cards, for example; Table A Table B Table C Four suit with four aces: — 100:1  100:1  Four suit with four of a kind: 250:1  50:1 50:1 Four suit with three of a kind: 50:1 30:1 33:1 Four suit with two pairs: — 25:1 25:1 Four suit with one pair: —  8:1  8:1 Four suit only:  5:1  5:1  5:1

2's Up Bonus Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a bet that a three card hand comprising the two cards dealt to him plus an additional card dealt at the end of the basic game, will include one pair or better. The player will win the 2's up bonus bet, if the rank of the hand is one pair or better. Winning bets are paid at odds depending on the rank of the hand, for example: Table Table Table Table Table Table Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Straight 40:1  35:1  40:1  35:1  50:1  40:1  40:1  Flush Three of 30:1  33:1  25:1  25:1  30:1  30:1  30:1  a kind Straight 6:1 6:1 6:1 6:1 6:1 5:1 6:1 Flush 4:1 4:1 4:1 4:1 3:1 4:1 3:1 Pair 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 Where:

a Straight Flush equals three cards of consecutive rank and of the same suit;

Three of a kind equals three cards of the same rank;

a Straight equals three cards of consecutive rank;

a Flush equals three cards of the same suit; and

a Pair equals two cards of the same rank.

AA Bonus Bet.

Before any cards are dealt, each player may place a bet that a five card poker hand comprising the two cards dealt to him plus three additional cards dealt at the end of the basic game, will include a pair of aces or better. The player will win the AA bonus bet, if the rank of the poker hand is a pair of aces or better. Winning bets are paid at odds depending on the rank of the poker hand, for example: A pair of aces to a straight  7:1 Flush 20:1 Full House 30:1 Four of a kind 40:1 Straight flush 50:1 Royal flush 100:1 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a layout of a playing area for a game in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative layout to that illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a cloth 10 for a casino gaming table. The cloth defines a dealer area 12 and seven player areas 14. Each player area 14 has a play line 16; a first betting box 18, wherein a player may place a main bet to participate in the game; a second betting box 20 in which an additional side bet may be placed on a “set bonus bet”, as described in detail below; and third and fourth betting boxes 22,24 in which an additional side bet may be placed on individual cards constituting the players hand, “high half-hand bet” and “low half-hand bet” described in detail below.

The dealers area has a play line 16; and first and second betting boxes 26,28 in which an additional side bets may be placed on the relative rank of the cards dealt to the dealer, “Dealer Hi bet” and “Dealer Low bet” as described below.

The game is played by one or more players, each player playing against a dealer. To enter the game a player places a main bet in betting box 18. At the same time the player may place optional, additional side bets in one or more of the betting boxes 20,22,24,26 or 28.

The game is played using a conventional pack of 52 playing cards, although in other versions of the game a multi-pack deck may be used. After shuffling the cards and inviting each of the participating players to cut the pack, the dealer deals two cards, one at a time, to each of the players and to himself. Each player reveals his cards, if the two cards are on the same rank, for example a pair of tens, the player places the cards above the play line 16; if the two cards are of consecutive rank, for example six/five, he places the cards on the play line 16; and if the cards are different, non-consecutive rank, for example seven/four, he places the cards below the play line 16. The dealer then reveals his cards, in similar manner.

The main bet placed in betting box 18 is decided by comparing the players hand with the dealers hand, as follows:

If both the player and the dealer have two cards of the same rank, then the pair of higher value will win, for example two tens will beat two fours; if however both pairs or of the same value, i.e. both the dealer and the player have a pair of tens, then the dealer will win:

If one of the player and the dealer have two cards of the same rank while the other has two cards of different rank, then the one with two cards of the same rank will win, for example two tens will beat queen/jack or king/five:

If both the player and the dealer have two cards of consecutive rank, then the one with cards of higher rank will win, for example Jack/ten will beat ten/nine: however if both have cards if the same rank, for example eight/seven, then the dealer will win. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, two cards of consecutive rank of the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suits, for example four/three suited will beat Ace/King unsuited.

If one of the player and the dealer have two cards of consecutive rank and the other has two cards of different, non-consecutive rank then the one with two cards of consecutive rank will win, for example five/four will beat Ace/Queen.

If both the player and the dealer have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, then the hands are split into a high card and a low card, the high card of the player being compared against the high card of the dealer and the low card of the player being compared against the low card of the dealer. If both the high and low cards of one of the player and the dealer are higher than the corresponding cards of the other, then that hand will win, for example Ace/seven will beat Queen/five. If one of the high or low cards of one of the player and the dealer is higher while the other of the high or low cards is lower, then neither win and the bet is pushed, that is held over to the next game, ie if the players has Ace/seven and the dealer ten/eight the bet is pushed. Where either the players and the dealers high and/or low cards are of the same rank, the dealers card will win, for example if the player has King/seven while the dealer has Ace/seven, the player will loose the bet and if the player has Ace/seven while the dealer has King/seven, the bet will be pushed.

If the player's hand beats that of the dealer, then the dealer will pay out on the main bet at even money, unless the player has a pair of tens or better, when the dealer will pay out at odds of 2:1.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 20, on the “Set Bonus bet” then, irrespective of whether the players hand beats the dealers hand, the dealer will pay out on the side bet if the player's hand has two cards of consecutive rank or two cards of the same rank. The dealer will pay out on the Set Bonus bet according to the following pay table: Hand Odds Pair of tens to pair of aces: 10:1  Pair of eights or nines: 8:1 Pair of twos to pair of sevens: 5:1 Two cards of consecutive rank: 2:1

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 22, on the “high half-hand bet”, then, the dealer will pay out on the side bet if;

the player has a pair of tens or better, and beats the dealers hand, when the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at odds of 2:1; or

the player has two cards of consecutive rank, or a pair of 2s to a pair of nines and beats the dealers hand, when the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at even money; or

both the player and the dealer have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank and the players high card is of higher rank than the dealers high card, then irrespective of whether the players hand beats the dealers hand, the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at even money;

otherwise the side bet will be lost.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 24, on the “low half-hand bet”, then, the dealer will pay out on side bet if;

the player has a pair of tens or better, and beats the dealers hand, when the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at odds of 2:1; or

the player has two cards of consecutive rank, or a pair of 2s to a pair of nines and beats the dealers hand, when the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at even money; or

both the player and the dealer have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank and the players low card is of higher rank than the dealers low card, then irrespective of whether the player hand beats the dealers hand, the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at even money;

otherwise the side bet will be lost.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 26, on the “dealer high bet” then, irrespective of whether the players hand beats the dealers hand, the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at even money, if;

the second card dealt to the dealer is higher ranked than the first card dealt to the dealer; or

the dealer has a pair of Aces, Kings, twos or threes;

otherwise the side bet will be lost.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 28, on the “dealer low bet” then, irrespective of whether the players hand beats the dealers hand, the dealer will pay out, on the side bet, at even money, if;

the second card dealt to the dealer is lower ranked than the first card dealt to the dealer; or

the dealer has a pair of Aces, Kings, twos or threes;

otherwise the side bet will be lost.

On the gaming cloth 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, four additional betting boxes are added to each of the player areas 14 to accommodate further side bets.

Betting box 30, in which a bet may be placed on all four cards, including the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer, being of different suit, “four suit bonus bet” as described below. Betting box 32 in which a bet may be placed on the player's hand being within a specified range of values, “low ball bonus bet” as described below. Betting box 34 in which a bet may be placed on three cards, comprising the two cards dealt to the dealer plus one additional card dealt at the end of the game, being of a specified minimum value, “2's up bonus bet” as described below. Betting box 36 in which a bet may be placed on five cards, comprising the two cards dealt to the dealer plus three additional card dealt at the end of the game, being of a specified minimum value poker hand, “AA bonus bet” as described below.

The basic game, “set bonus bet”, “high half-hand bet”, “low half-hand bet”, “dealer high bet” and “dealer low bet” are played as described above with reference to FIG. 1.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 30, on the “four suit bonus bet”, irrespective of whether the player's hand beats that of the dealer, the dealer will pay out on the side bet if all four cards including the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer, are of different suit. The dealer will pay out on the side bet, depending on the rank of the four cards, for example in accordance with one of the following pay tables; Hand Table A Table B Table C Four suit with four aces: — 100:1  100:1  Four suit with four of a kind: 250:1  50:1 50:1 Four suit with three of a kind: 50:1 30:1 33:1 Four suit with two pairs: — 25:1 25:1 Four suit with one pair: —  8:1  8:1 Four suit only:  5:1  5:1  5:1

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 32, on the “low-ball bonus bet”, irrespective of whether the player's hand beats that of the dealer, the dealer will pay out on the side bet if the players hand comprises two cards of different rank, the ranks of the cards falling within specified ranges. The dealer will pay out on the side bet at odds depending on the range in which the ranks of the cards fall, for example: Both cards of different rank and three or less: 5:1 Both cards of different rank and five or less: 3:1 Both cards of different rank and seven or less: 2:1.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 34, on the “2's up bonus bet”, the dealer will at the end of the game deal an additional card. The additional card may be a single common card that may be combined with the two cards dealt to any player in who's betting box 34 a side bet has been placed, to form a three card hand. According to an alternative variation of the game, the dealer may deal an additional card to each of the players in who's betting box 34 a side bet has been placed, to form a three card hands. The dealer will pay out on the side bet, if the rank of the player's three card hand comprises a pair or better, at odds in accordance with one of the following pay tables: Straight Flush 40:1  35:1  40:1  35:1  50:1  40:1  40:1  Three of a kind 30:1  33:1  25:1  25:1  30:1  30:1  30:1  Straight 6:1 6:1 6:1 6:1 6:1 5:1 6:1 Flush 4:1 4:1 4:1 4:1 3:1 4:1 3:1 Pair 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 Where:

-   -   a Straight Flush equals three cards of consecutive rank and of         the same suit;         -   Three of a kind equals three cards of the same rank;         -   a Straight equals three cards of consecutive rank;

a Flush equals three cards of the same suit; and

a Pair equals two cards of the same rank

If the player's three card hand is worse than a pair, the side bet is lost.

If a side bet has been placed in betting box 36, on the “AA bonus bet”, the dealer will at the end of the game deal three additional cards. The additional cards may be common cards that may be combined with the two cards dealt to any player in who's betting box 34 a side bet has been placed, to form a five card poker hand. According to an alternative variation of the game, the dealer may deal three additional cards to each of the players in who's betting box 34 a side bet has been placed, to form a five card poker hand for each of the players.

The dealer will pay out on the side bet, if the rank of the player's five card poker hand comprises a pair of Aces or better, at odds in accordance with the following pay tables: A pair of aces to a straight  7:1 Flush 20:1 Full House 30:1 Four of a kind 40:1 Straight flush 50:1 Royal flush 100:1 

If the player's poker hand is less than a pair of Aces, the side bet is lost.

While it is necessary to place a bet in box 18, in order to participate in the basic game, in one variation of the game, players other that the participating players may be permitted to make side bets on the hands of the participating players or the dealer, and/or participating players may be permitted to make side bets on the hands of other participating players.

Where the game includes both the “2's up bonus bet” and the “AA bonus bet”, or any other side bet requiring additional cards, the additional card or cards used for one side bet may be included in the additional cards for the other side bet, or new additional cards may be dealt for each side bet.

In accordance with a variation of the game, after the player has seen his hand but before the dealer's hand is revealed, the player must place a call bet, in order to continue in the game. This call bet is added to the main bet and is decided by comparison of the player's hand with the dealers hand, as described above. If the call bet is not placed, then the player forfeits his main bet. Any side bets placed on the players hand will however stand and the hand will be played out accordingly.

While in the above embodiment, the game is played with a pack of fifty two playing cards, in other variations of the game, a multi-pack deck may be used. In such cases, the ranking of the hands may be adjusted accordingly, for example a suited pair may out-rank an unsuited pair.

While the game has been described above as including all nine side bets, any one or more of these side bets or other side bets, may be combined with the basic game, the layout of the playing cloth being adapted the provide the appropriate number of betting boxes.

In an alternative format of the game, or its variations, the dealer will automatically lose the hand if his hand fails to reach a minimum specified value, for example two cards of different, non-consecutive rank below seven.

While the game has been described as a casino game, the game or its variations may be adapted for play in other formats, for example as a board game, on the Internet, on a video slot machine, computer programs, interactive television or any electronic medium. The term cloth used herein is not intended to limit to any particular material but will cover any medium which defines the playing area, whether physical or virtual.

While in the embodiment described the play line if provided the provide an indication of the level of the hand, this is optional.

Additionally or alternatively, the game or any variation thereof may be played

Or adapted for use as a lottery, on a scratch card or by random selection of labelled balls or other equipment.

In an alternative format of the game or variation of the game, the players may play against one another, the player with the highest ranking hand taking the initial bets, which form a pot. 

1-52. (canceled)
 53. A card game comprising a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth; wherein the gaming cloth provides; a plurality of player areas, where cards may be dealt to one or more players; the game comprising: dealing hands having two playing cards to each player; and comparing the hands dealt to each player to determine the outcome of the game by: determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank; where hands are of the same level, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.
 54. The card game according to claim 53, wherein the gaming cloth further provides: a dealer area in which cards may be dealt to a dealer; the or each player area including an area in which the or each player may place an initial bet; the hand dealt to the or each player being compared with the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the initial bet.
 55. The card game according to claim 53, wherein the set of playing cards consists of one or more conventional packs of fifty two playing cards.
 56. The card game according to claim 53, wherein two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suit, regardless of the rank of the cards.
 57. The card game according to claim 53, wherein if two hands have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the high cards of each hand are compared with one another and the low cards of each hand are compared with one another, and both the high and low cards of one hand having to be of higher rank than the corresponding cards of the other hand, in order to win.
 58. The card game according to claim 57, wherein if one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, while the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, then the bet is carried over to a next game.
 59. The card game according to claim 53, wherein each area has a play line, and the play line enabling the rank of the hand to be displayed by placement of the cards dealt to the dealer and/or player relative to the play line.
 60. The card game according to claim 59, wherein a hand consisting of a pair of cards of the same rank is placed above the play line, a hand consisting of two cards of consecutive rank is placed on the play line, while a hand consisting of two cards of different, non-consecutive rank is placed below the play line.
 61. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a call area in which, after seeing the two cards he is dealt but before the dealer's hand is revealed, a player may place a call bet in order to continue in the game.
 62. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a set bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a set bet, a player placing a bet in the set bet area winning the bet if the player's hand is above a specified rank.
 63. The card game according to claim 62, wherein a player winning a set bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.
 64. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a high half-hand bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a high half-hand bet, a player placing a bet in the high half-hand bet area winning the bet if: the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's high card beats the dealer's high card.
 65. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a low half-hand bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low half-hand bet, a player placing a bet in the low half-hand bet area winning the bet of: the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's low card beats the dealer's low card.
 66. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the dealer area further includes a dealer high bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer high bet, a player placing a bet in the dealer high bet area winning the bet if: the second card dealt to the dealer is of higher rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or if the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.
 67. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the dealer area further includes a dealer low bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer low bet, a player placing a bet in the dealer low bet area winning the bet if: the second card dealt to the dealer is of lower rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or if the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.
 68. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a low-ball bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low-ball bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the low-ball bonus bet area winning the bet if the player is dealt a hand having two cards of different rank, both cards having ranks falling within a specified range.
 69. The card game according to claim 68, wherein a player winning a low-ball bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the specified range within which the ranks of the player's cards fall.
 70. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a four suit bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a four suit bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the four suit bonus bet area winning the bet, if the four cards including the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer are of different suit.
 71. The card game according to claim 70, wherein a player winning a four suit bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the four cards.
 72. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes a 2's up bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a 2's up bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the 2's up bonus bet area winning the bet if a three card hand, including the two cards dealt to the player and an additional card dealt at the end of the game, has a rank of one pair cards of the same rank, or better.
 73. The card game according to claim 72, wherein a player winning a 2's up bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the three card hand.
 74. The card game according to claim 54, wherein the or each player area further includes an AA bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place an AA bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the AA bonus bet area winning the bet if a five card hand including the two cards dealt to the player and three additional cards dealt at the end of the game, has a poker rank of a pair of aces, or better.
 75. The card game according to claim 74, wherein a player winning an AA bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the poker ranking of the five card hand.
 76. A method of playing a card game in which: one or more players place a bet to participate in the game; hands having two playing cards are dealt to the or each player participating in the game and to a dealer; and comparing the hand dealt to the or each player with the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the bet by: determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank; where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of the dealer, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.
 77. The method according to claim 76, wherein the cards are dealt from set of playing cards comprising at least one conventional pack of fifty two playing cards.
 78. The method according to claim 76, wherein two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suit, regardless of the rank of the cards.
 79. The method according to claim 76, wherein if both the dealer and the player both have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the high cards of each of the player's hand and the dealer's hand are compared with one another and the low cards of each of the player's hand and the dealer's hand are compared with one another, both the high and low cards of one of hand having to be of higher rank than the corresponding cards of the other hand, in order to win.
 80. The method according to claim 79, wherein if one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, while the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, then the bet is carried over to a next game.
 81. The method according to claim 76, wherein at least one of the dealer area and the or each player area has a play line, the cards dealt to the dealer and/or player being placed relative to the play line in order to display the rank of the hand.
 82. The method according to claim 81, wherein a hand consisting of a pair of cards of the same rank is placed above the play line, a hand consisting of two cards of consecutive rank is placed on the play line, while a hand consisting of two cards of different, non-consecutive rank is placed below the play line.
 83. The method according to claim 76, wherein after a player has seen the cards dealt to him, but before the dealer's cards are exposed, a player places a call bet in order to continue in the game.
 84. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt a player may place a set bet, and the player winning the set bet if the player's hand is above a specified rank.
 85. The method according to claim 84, wherein the player winning a set bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.
 86. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a high half-hand bet, and the player winning the high half-hand bet if: the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's high card beats the dealer's high card.
 87. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low half-hand bet, and the player winning the low half-hand bet if the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's low card beats the dealer's low card.
 88. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer high bet, and the player placing a dealer high bet winning the bet if: the second card dealt to the dealer is of higher rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.
 89. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer low bet and the a player placing a dealer low bet winning the bet if: the second card dealt to the dealer is of lower rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.
 90. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low-ball bonus bet, and the player placing a low-ball bonus bet winning the bet if the player is dealt a hand having two cards of different rank, both cards having ranks falling within a specified range.
 91. The method according to claim 90, wherein a player winning a low-ball bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the specified range within which the ranks of the player's cards fall.
 92. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt a player may place a four suit bonus bet, and the player placing a four suit bonus bet winning the bet if the four cards including the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer are of different suit.
 93. The method according to claim 92, wherein the player winning a four suit bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the four cards.
 94. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt a player may place a 2's up bonus bet, and the player placing a 2's up bonus bet winning the bet if a three card hand including the two cards dealt to the player and an additional card dealt at the end of the game, has a rank of one pair cards of the same rank, or better.
 95. The method according to claim 94, in which the player winning a 2's up bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the three card hand.
 96. The method according to claim 76, wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a M bonus bet, and the player placing an AA bonus bet winning the bet if a five card hand including the two cards dealt to the player and three additional cards dealt at the end of the game, has a poker rank of a pair of aces, or better.
 97. The card game according to claim 96, wherein a player winning an AA bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the poker ranking of the five card hand.
 98. A method of playing a card game in which: a plurality of players place a bet to participate in the game; hands having two playing cards are dealt to each of the players participating in the game; and the hand dealt to each player is compared with the hands dealt to the other players to determine the outcome of the game by: determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank; where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of another player, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.
 99. The method according to claim 98, wherein the cards are dealt from set of playing cards consists of at least one conventional pack of fifty two playing cards.
 100. The method according to claim 98, wherein two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suit, regardless of the rank of the cards.
 101. The method according to claim 98, wherein if two or more players have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the high cards of each of the player's hands are compared with one another and the low cards of each of the player's hands are compared with one another, both the high and low cards of one of hand having to be of higher rank than the corresponding cards of the other hand, in order to win.
 102. The method according to claim 101, wherein if one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, while the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, then the bet is carried over to a next game.
 103. The method according to claim 98, wherein each player area has a play line, the cards dealt to each player being placed relative to the play line in order to display the rank of the hand.
 104. The method according to claim 103, wherein a hand consisting of a pair of cards of the same rank is placed above the play line, a hand consisting of two cards of consecutive rank is placed on the play line, while a hand consisting of two cards of different, non-consecutive rank is placed below the play line. 